Just in: Reps backtrack on death penalty, immunity bills

In a stunning U-turn, the House of Representatives has reversed its stance on two bills that had passed their second reading just 24 hours ago.

These bills aimed to reform the death penalty law and strip immunity from high-ranking officials, including the Vice President, governors, and deputy governors.

The decision was disclosed during a plenary session on Thursday by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (Edo).

Persecondnews had reported that both bills passed through a second reading stage on Wednesday as part of the 42 proposed legislations considered during plenary.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, explained that the decision on the bills is to allow for a more in-depth debate among lawmakers.

He said: “We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters.”

Persecondnews had reported that the House on Wednesday passed a bill aimed at stripping public officials of immunity, which underwent a second reading, as part of efforts to combat corruption, eliminate impunity, and promote accountability among public officials.

In addition, 39 constitutional amendment bills successfully passed the second reading stage.

One of such is the Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify the immunity conferred on the president, remove the immunity conferred on the vice president, governors, and their deputies, to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.

Also scaling second reading is the bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to separate the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorney-General of a state from the offices of the Minister of Justice of the Federal Government and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of a state.

Another notable bill is the Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to grant citizenship rights to spouses of women from Nigeria, specify the minimum number of youths and women that may be appointed into specific offices.

Details shortly…